By Emeka Obasi
Those who moved the Federal Capital out of Lagos were not sincere from the beginning as events are gradually unfolding. In the entire world today, no capital is as besieged as Abuja, with the Federal Government unable to protect its territory.
Lies were spread that Lagos was too close to the sea, marking it out as easy target for foreign invaders. We were told that Lagos was congested which made it imperative to look for a virgin land right within the cockpit of Nigeria’s heart.
Many Nigerians do not want to know their history. Some of us who are informed will continue to tell others what they should know. And I have no apologies about it. This country has been more of a huge fraud since Lugard of Abinger buried our future in 1914.
When Gen. Yakubu Gowon balkanised Nigeria into twelve states on May 27, 1967, there was Abuja. It was one of the seven divisions that made up the new North – Western State. The others were Argungu, Gwandu, Sokoto, Bida, Kontagora and Minna.
Gen. Murtala Mohammed came in 1976, increased the number of states to nineteen, favouring the upper divide and set up a committee to look for a new Federal Capital Territory. Justice Akinola Aguda was fished out to lead it.
More land was grabbed from three of the nineteen states, Niger, Plateau and Kwara. The story that Abuja was moved to the old Suleja while a new Suleja was created in Niger State is quite confusing. I may have to consult Abubakar Jatau, the Zaria man who founded the original Abuja, for clarifications.
Abuja was built on deceit, that is why the land continues to burn. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has every reason to dread the Federal Capital Territory. Those who criticise him for moving some agencies to Lagos are part of the problem of this country.
Perhaps, they are waiting for the day Bandits will move into the Presidential Villa before they understand that Nigeria is at war. And the invaders did not come through the Atlantic Ocean or the Lagos Marina. The attackers emerged from the forests and the desert.
I make bold to say it again, that Abuja is cursed. Murtala who began the process, was assassinated in a bloody coup. President Shehu Shagari, the man who laid the first foundation was sacked right inside the city. It was not a bloodless coup.
Commander Brigade of Guards, Brigadier (General) Mohammed Kaliel (N/ 646) put up a fight. One of his officers, Captain Augustine Ayongo (N/3716) showed bravery and in the process, Brig. Ibrahim Bako was killed. The coup plotters eventually captured Shagari and moved him to Makurdi. Ayongo was retired about a year later, on December 13, 1984.
The man who emerged after that coup, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, refused to stay in Abuja. He chose Lagos. Another coup occured in 1985. Gen Ibrahim Babangida stepped in as president. On October 1, 1986 he moved independence celebrations to Abuja.
That was how his Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe was schemed out of power. It was the first time the Head of State would disagree with his next in command and make it a public show. Of course, Ukiwe chose to retire after that embarrassment.
Earlier in March, FCT minister, Mamman Vatsa, was executed in Lagos on allegations of treason. His childhood friend, Babangida, could not help.
On December 12, 1991, Babangida relocated to Abuja, from Dodan Barracks, Lagos. He initiated the construction of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, in 1985. Stories coming out of that site have been scary. Chief Ernest Shonekan was declared an illegal occupant in 1993, by Justice Dolapo Akinsanya and after 84 days, Gen. Sani Abacha sacked him.
Abacha died in the Villa. Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo lost his wife, Stella, when she was First Lady. President Umaru Yar’adua died in office. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan lost his brother. There were death wishes on Buhari and some of his antagonists went to the extreme claiming that he was a pseudo Buhari.
Since October 1, 2010, when the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) bombed Abuja, the Federal Capital has known no peace. Boko Haram bombed the United Nations building, attacked military and police formations, invaded Kuje prison and joined forces with bandits.
Lagos was not this infiltrated even during the Civil War. The Biafran Air Force carried out few raids in 1967 and that was all. Abuja is different. Officially, there is no war, but more people have been killed in the last one year than Lagos lost in the entire two and half years of the Biafran crisis.
Maybe, this is time to restructure Nigeria by presidential fiat without going through the National Assembly. It is possible. Everything must not be choked up in Abuja, the city needs a breather.
With modern technology, Federal civil servants can operate from anywhere. Why on Earth should a retiree from Otanzu Otanchara in the South – East travel to Abuja for verification or a South – Westerner, from Cito Gbetrome rush to the Federal Capital for that?
Tinubu should decentralise our system. We are in a national emergency. Abuja is no longer safe. Lagos does not have to carry all the burden off Abuja. Federal workers can operate from their various Geopolitical Zones while those that work in specialised agencies move down to the Badagry part of Lagos.
Things have fallen apart. The centre can no longer hold. With less emphasis on the Federal Capital, state governors will be forced to work and local governments areas will rise from the dead. Tinubu must bring back our Lagos.
